You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support.

Also, if you have read this far, we might as well let you know that the REAL action happens in our community section. Join us to find out!

Changes to how we allow commercial entities to use the forum / community are being forced, thanks to incessant fighting between the guys who have been around, and built this place, and the new comers who want to upstage them.

While we will need more time to finalize our rules, here are an initial set that will be strictly enforced from now. Our eventual set of rules should more or less mirror DIYMA. At least that is the thought process now.

Again, these are rules to tide us over until we can have a more relaxed set that will work for us.
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT ..

1) If you represent a business, you cannot post on the forum without kb100s explicit permission. Eventually, we will do this by committee, but for now, it is going to be just kb100. Please send him a ONE TIME PM explaining what you intend to do for this community, and what value you intend to add. You will be required to stick to the stated mandate to continue enjoying posting privileges and all resulting benefits (commercial and otherwise)

Edit - This information will be required too in your mail. This is not going to be shared with general public but used to weed out fictitious entities.

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire

I'd recommend that all commercial entities declare the following at the bare minimum.

Registered Name (Per MoC):
Date of registration:
Name of Directors/Partners:
Registered address of business premises:
Type: LLP/LLC/PVT
TIN:

This will ensure that our user base is dealing with real commercial entities than fly-by-night fictitious ones.

2) Any transgression to rule (1) will result in an instant ban. A revocation will only happen when a satisfactory answer is provided as to how you can contribute to this community.

3) Rule (1) does not apply to folks who are already on the moderation team or folks who have been around and contributed to the various sections. The One time PM is being sought to build a fresh list and to keep it updated going forward.

4) If you represent a commercial entity, you cannot post anything negative about any other commercial entity or brand that has officially allowed representation on GearHeads.

5) Going forward, commercial entities will be charged an annual fee - the parameters are being drawn up on the lines of DIYMA etc. This will come with a set of privileges (like customised avatar, access to dedicated sections, facility to carry links in signatures etc).

6) In order to encourage contribution and sense of belonging, significant forum value addition by commercial members will be acknowledged by virtue of a discount or a complete waiver of this fees. Needless to say this will be a collective decision taken by the forum management.

7) All commercial members will carry tags that notify users of their special status. They are required to create a signature that carries all the brands they represent. They will also have the choice of taking a marked sub forum to gain better visibility.

8) No sales or offers on PMs by non approved commercial entities. Any such PM brought to our notice will result in a ban on the user account.

9) No personal attacks, especially on or by the commercial members. No personal attacks on PMs as well. Any such incident brought to our notice with proof will result in a ban on the user account.

As always, we are open to suggestions from all of you as well to better the commercial environment.

Also, we are looking for input on the quantum of charges we should levy commercial entities that wish to participate here.

Would also need your help to tag commercial entities so that they are aware of the change, and are not taken out by a ban resulting from a violation of (1).

Some of the last few commercial member requests we have received has again lit up a long standing debate happening at the back end, and its only fair I bring you upto speed on the thought process.

The ONLY reason behind deciding to permit commercial members to post and use the forum was the thought that this will encourage them (the domain experts) to add content to the forum. However, the results have been quite something else... a mixed bag ..and not a very favourable one at that. We found..

1. Save very few people (actually can think of less than five), others have used to forum ONLY as a marketing tool. Zero to minimal other contribution.
2. These people have neither added content, nor contributed in ANY other way .. be it helping other members, encouraging debates etc.
3. Some of the members here have been enthusiasts and copious contributors/participants BEFORE they decided to go commercial.
4. There have been many instances of deals gone sour .. we generally don't like our members getting screwed over.
5. Endless fights between competition spilling over onto the forum - traffic of the unnecessary kind. Its frustrating having to play arbitrator. (and thankless!)

This and a whole lot more...

The question is if GH is providing a platform, then what is in it for GH? Broadly two things were agreed upon. One, Commercial members will be charged a certain sum of money (which is not going to be insignificant) which will go toward the costs of running the forum. Discounts on this will be given to contributing members (either historically or otherwise) - contributions will include content added, people helped, advice given etc. What remains to be decided is the quantum of money. We will communicate this as and when it happens... current timetable is Jan 2017.

What was also decided was that a system of quid-pro-quo will govern the privileges. Contributing members (content ONLY - not the money) will get a lot more from GH than the others who use this only as a marketing tool. All the fights etc that have happened in the past in almost every commercially active section (Detailing, ICE etc) have lead us to conclude that our loyalties will lie with contributing members. In other words GH owes nothing to people who are not loyal to GH. This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and any change will have a reciprocal effect on this side as well.

A BIG part of the debate was if we can allow competing establishments to use GH. On the principle level - YES. But we would like everyone to cooperate by keeping off each others threads, and being sensitive to each others interests etc. Debates - as and when it happens - should be restricted to the SCIENCE and not get personal. Push comes to shove, GH WILL back the contributing member (Again - within limits).

Some ventures are competing directly with multiple entities here... entities that have a long history of association with the forum and have contributed to GH getting to where it is. Privileges will be directly proportional to the contributions. Current sentiment is against allowing people to use the forum only for their own business needs. We are a forum ... not a B2C.

I have no commercial interests anywhere.. and hence people have come to expect and accept my neutrality. I'm the designated Sheriff of this town!

Trust everyone will understand the complexities involved and hoping we can add to the "contributing" commercial member numbers.